Well, since my last posting I've experienced a couple of minor setbacks in the "humanitarian side" of my mission here in Haiti.
I'm sure that most of you remember Robinson, the man whom, with the help of many others, I was able to secure a wheelchair for. I've seen a lot of really bad things during my 25 year law enforcement career. And I've seen a lot of really destitute people, none of whom were more destitute than Robinson. I'll cut to the chase; about 10 days after getting Robinson his wheelchair, and watching him use it daily during those 10 days, we suddenly saw him without the wheelchair, back to scooting along the highway on his rear end. I remember immediately feeling rage, assuming that someone had stolen his wheelchair from him.
At this point, we pulled over to the side of the road. I called out Robinson's name but noticed that he would not stop and would not make eye contact with me. Having been a Detective for many, many years this made me immediately suspicious, for a couple of reasons. As thoughts are running through my mind, I was thinking to myself, "okay, you stopped to confront him in front of a bunch of people sitting on the side of the road." A crime victim in America would also be hesitant to talk to the police in front of a group of bystanders. I also noticed that he had money in his shirt pocket. So, my next thought was "okay, if they stole his wheelchair, why did they not steal his money?" Next was, "okay, maybe he came up with the money after his wheelchair was stolen." I admit, I had no idea what happened. All I knew at that time was that this guy no longer had a wheelchair that he had desperately needed and seemed to enjoy having.
I made several more attempts to talk to Robinson. He actually crawled onto the gravel portion of the road to crawl around our vehicle, all the while ignoring my repeated attempts to talk with him with the help of a Haitian National Police officer (HNP), The officer was not in uniform. Had he been, I would have chalked up Robinson's reaction to that fact alone, since most Haitians are fearful or at the very least intimidated by HNP. In the end, there was nothing more I could do. We left and returned to Port-Au-Prince (PAP).
So, I have a pretty big heart, too big at times I'm guessing. As you can well imagine, this has bothered me since this day. I have experienced a broad range of emotions, from anger to empathy to sympathy. I decided that I would just wait a while and attempt to make contact with Robinson again. I'm confident that God will arrange for that meeting when he sees fit. It's tough though to see him, on an almost daily basis, crawling along the highway, wearing the same clothes he was wearing the first time I saw him, nearly 45 days ago.
So the next thing I've been dealing with are the kids. There are three kids I have "adopted" since I changed jobs in September from an IDP Camp to a Commissariat, or police station. My partner and I have chosen to help them out on several occasions, buying them food, clothing, whatever we feel the need is at that particular moment. These three children, two boys and one girl, are all around the age of 11. The two boys, Lamil and Kingston are brothers. They have no mother, other siblings and a father. Lamil is a "little person." Nancy is one of five children with no father. I've yet to meet her siblings. Lamil and Kingston were initially adopted by my partner, a really good guy from Mississippi, a true Southerner. He would have you believe that he is a tough guy, which he is. He also has a big heart, probably bigger than he would like to admit.
Anyway, when you help a child here in Haiti, on your own, you run the risk of that child, or children, coming to you on a daily basis. This is exactly what has happened, much to our dismay Don't get me wrong; I truly enjoy helping these children. But, they are children living in a Fourth World Country. They have been raised by and around people who receive handouts on a regular basis, some deserved, some not. We have tried to explain the kids that they cannot come to the police station on a daily basis expecting to be given food or money. Either they don't understand that concept or they choose to ignore. There is a valid argument either way.
Recently one of my counterparts, a Canadian, bought Nancy some cookies and a drink after she came to the station looking for me. While she ate the cookies, she simply poured out the drink. Needless to say, the Canadian wasn't very happy about it. He confronted her and she told him that she did not like that particular drink. This too angered me.
A day or so later, Nancy showed up again and I was there. She asked for some money. Hmm, not a good sign. I usually choose to help people who don't ask for anything rather than those who simply beg, out of necessity or out of habit. I had a $50 Gourdes bill in my pocket. This isn't much in American dollars, just over $1. But, it was all I had on me at the time. At the same time, my partner handed Lamil and Kingston each some money, admittedly more than I had given Nancy. I immediately noticed that Nancy was very jealous and she began questioning Lamil and Kingston about how much money they had received, even trying to reach into Lamil's pocket. As I've said, I have a big heart but occasionally I also have a short fuse. Nancy laid the money I had given her down on the bench and basically refused to take it, indicating that she wanted more. Not a good idea on her part. I know that she is a child, I took that into account. But, that is no excuse. I picked up the bill and put it back in pocket and told her nicely to leave. She did not like this at all. She immediately began crying, yet shedding no tears. It didn't take me long to grow tired of this little act either. I asked the HNP to tell her nicely to leave, which they did. She left the compound but then stood just outside the compound, wailing away, still shedding not a single tear. I then began to wander if she was well adept at this little act? Who knows. What I know is that she picked the wrong actions on the wrong day. Her wailing led several bystanders to stop and I guess ask her what was wrong. I'm not sure what she told them, but we received some not no nice glares from several of the locals. So be it. When I left that day she was still begging us for money, which she did not receive.
The next day, we stopped by the station again. Within 15 minutes here comes Nancy, running up giving my partner and I a kiss on the cheek, all smiles. I'm thinking to myself "okay, she knows she screwed up." Forgive and forget. No, she started asking for money again. Again, I told her no. Again, she starts wailing. Again, not a single tear shed. I forgot to mention one thing. Several days before this happened I had taken her shopping and bought food for her entire family and bought her a new pair of shoes, some socks and a backpack for school. I thought it important to point out that little fact. As we were leaving that evening we were going to give an HNP officer a ride to PAP. I look over and there's Nancy, standing outside my window. I asked the HNP officer to politely tell her to leave. He rolls down his window, says something to her in Creole and then reaches into his pocket, pulls out some money and hands it to her. I'm sitting there aghast! I'm like "no, that's not what we want to to do!" The HNP officer had the right intentions but misunderstood exactly what we wanted him to do. I can't win for losing.
I have basically decided not to give Nancy any more money. I may be wrong but I am convinced that she is taking advantage. It will not be easy but that's the way it is. My partner and I have instead decided to concentrate on Lamil and Kingston. They both smile whether they receive anything or not. We'll see what happens with that.
Well, I work one more day and then I'm off work for a week. Won't do much, hang by the pool some and be bored stiff. After that, I'll work 21 days and then head home for Christmas. I can hardly wait. Until next time, take care, stay safe and God Bless.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Good Days and Bad Days
The title of today's blog is very accurate. Until today, I really hadn't had a bad day for about a month. Well, today was one of those bad days. I wish I could blame it on someone or something, but I'm responsible. Let me explain.
Haiti is a very frustrating place. Nothing here is ever easy. Sometimes, the most basic things prove difficult.
As most of you are aware, I have been providing just a little bit of relief for some of the Haitian people, mostly kids. This is not my primary job. I was hired by a U.S. government contractor to come here and provide law enforcement expertise to the Haitian National Police, commonly referred to as the HNP or PNH, in French. Needless to say, that has been more than disappointing. Like the police in Iraq, very few HNP are interested in what we have to say. And, I guess I can't blame them. What police officer would want to be forced to accept guidance from a foreign police officer? I know that I wouldn't. At the same time, the police here are rife with corruption. Anyway, that's another story for another day.
This week I have experienced a range of emotions. From elation to all out depression. Via my Facebook Page, I shared with many of you the story of Robinson, the handicapped man we recently provided a wheelchair to. That definitely warmed my heart. We have seen him every day since giving him the chair and he seems to be doing well.
My next challenge has been trying provide for some of he children in the area where I work. Specifically, Nancy, Lamil and Kingston. All three are about 10 years old. Lamil and Kingston are brothers, Lamil is a "little person." For about the past two weeks I have been feeding them and trying to provide food for their families. I do the same with Nancy. Lamil and Kingston have no mother, she passed away from Cholera. Nancy has no father, he was killed in the earthquake. All three seem to crave a parent's attention but I believe that they are also hungry.
I find myself wandering if they are hungry because they are typical kids or if they are hungry because they have had nothing to eat. It just breaks my heart. And on top of this I have all of the other people who ask for things, from 7 years old to 70 years old.
Lamil, Kingston and Nancy have made a habit of coming to the police station on a daily basis. We had to put a stop to this. After all, it is a police station. This made me feel guilty. But, when you add up what I spend on them on a daily basis, it adds up quickly. Unfortunately, I do not have unlimited funds and often find myself running short of funds at the end of the month. But then, I think about the fact that my oldest son is buying me an IPad 2 for Christmas. How can I get something like that and not take care of these kids. I have come to realize that I cannot help everyone here. If I could though, I would.
Nancy was the first one to come to me today. I was sitting in the car cooling down, something else I feel guilty about. She smiled and knocked on my window. She then rubbed her stomach and said "grangou" or "I'm hungry" in Creole. Needless to say, I couldn't resist. Well, as I came out of the store, here came Lamil and Kingston. Back to square one. I took them into the market and bought them some food and drinks to take home. I had the store owner, a really nice guy who speaks English, explain to then that I cannot continue to buy them food on a daily basis. They dropped their heads and walked away. The guilt I felt suddenly consumed me. I forgot to mention. I paid for Nancy to get a ride home on a motorcycle taxi. The driver took her about 100 yards down the road, and basically kicked her to the curb. What arrogance. I'm afraid of what I will do if I find him again. So, I had to pay another driver to take her home. She lives about 5 miles from where I work. So, based on all of this, my whole day was ruined.
I went from being in a really good mood, to being in a really dark mood, almost to the point where it scared me. I immediately shut down and basically didn't speak to anyone the rest of the afternoon.
As we were headed back to PAP we again spotted Robinson, still going along in his wheelchair. This lifted my mood somewhat.
When I got back to the lodge, I was extremely depressed. As bad as I have been since arriving in Haiti. I wasn't sure that I could go on much longer, as pathetic as that sounds. But, I have to provide for my family. If it were up to me, I would have went home today. But, that's the coward's way out.
I finally decided to go out by the pool and update my blog. Before doing that, I called Michelle Roberts to check on Ken Ken. To my surprise, she told me that he was sitting up in bed, by himself and was smiling at her. What a boost that was. She will post some to pics of him on my FB page later tonight.
The bottom line is this; when will I accept the fact that God will never give me more than I can handle? Why do I, at times, lack the most basic faith? To take an exerpt form a book I was reading today, am I a follower of Christ or am I a fan of Christ? That is a very good question and sometimes I feel as though I can't answer that question.
I sincerely ask for your prayers. I will need them to get through the next 1-2 years. I may be home in a month or I may be home for good in 21 months. The job marked may determine the answer to that question. I have asked to return to my previous job but only God can make that happen.
Please continue to pray for Ken Ken, Nancy, Lamil, Kingston and the rest of the Haitian people. It is very easy to become judgmental towards the adults who often try their best to take advantage of you. Until next time, take care, stay safe and God Bless.
Mark
Haiti is a very frustrating place. Nothing here is ever easy. Sometimes, the most basic things prove difficult.
As most of you are aware, I have been providing just a little bit of relief for some of the Haitian people, mostly kids. This is not my primary job. I was hired by a U.S. government contractor to come here and provide law enforcement expertise to the Haitian National Police, commonly referred to as the HNP or PNH, in French. Needless to say, that has been more than disappointing. Like the police in Iraq, very few HNP are interested in what we have to say. And, I guess I can't blame them. What police officer would want to be forced to accept guidance from a foreign police officer? I know that I wouldn't. At the same time, the police here are rife with corruption. Anyway, that's another story for another day.
This week I have experienced a range of emotions. From elation to all out depression. Via my Facebook Page, I shared with many of you the story of Robinson, the handicapped man we recently provided a wheelchair to. That definitely warmed my heart. We have seen him every day since giving him the chair and he seems to be doing well.
My next challenge has been trying provide for some of he children in the area where I work. Specifically, Nancy, Lamil and Kingston. All three are about 10 years old. Lamil and Kingston are brothers, Lamil is a "little person." For about the past two weeks I have been feeding them and trying to provide food for their families. I do the same with Nancy. Lamil and Kingston have no mother, she passed away from Cholera. Nancy has no father, he was killed in the earthquake. All three seem to crave a parent's attention but I believe that they are also hungry.
I find myself wandering if they are hungry because they are typical kids or if they are hungry because they have had nothing to eat. It just breaks my heart. And on top of this I have all of the other people who ask for things, from 7 years old to 70 years old.
Lamil, Kingston and Nancy have made a habit of coming to the police station on a daily basis. We had to put a stop to this. After all, it is a police station. This made me feel guilty. But, when you add up what I spend on them on a daily basis, it adds up quickly. Unfortunately, I do not have unlimited funds and often find myself running short of funds at the end of the month. But then, I think about the fact that my oldest son is buying me an IPad 2 for Christmas. How can I get something like that and not take care of these kids. I have come to realize that I cannot help everyone here. If I could though, I would.
Nancy was the first one to come to me today. I was sitting in the car cooling down, something else I feel guilty about. She smiled and knocked on my window. She then rubbed her stomach and said "grangou" or "I'm hungry" in Creole. Needless to say, I couldn't resist. Well, as I came out of the store, here came Lamil and Kingston. Back to square one. I took them into the market and bought them some food and drinks to take home. I had the store owner, a really nice guy who speaks English, explain to then that I cannot continue to buy them food on a daily basis. They dropped their heads and walked away. The guilt I felt suddenly consumed me. I forgot to mention. I paid for Nancy to get a ride home on a motorcycle taxi. The driver took her about 100 yards down the road, and basically kicked her to the curb. What arrogance. I'm afraid of what I will do if I find him again. So, I had to pay another driver to take her home. She lives about 5 miles from where I work. So, based on all of this, my whole day was ruined.
I went from being in a really good mood, to being in a really dark mood, almost to the point where it scared me. I immediately shut down and basically didn't speak to anyone the rest of the afternoon.
As we were headed back to PAP we again spotted Robinson, still going along in his wheelchair. This lifted my mood somewhat.
When I got back to the lodge, I was extremely depressed. As bad as I have been since arriving in Haiti. I wasn't sure that I could go on much longer, as pathetic as that sounds. But, I have to provide for my family. If it were up to me, I would have went home today. But, that's the coward's way out.
I finally decided to go out by the pool and update my blog. Before doing that, I called Michelle Roberts to check on Ken Ken. To my surprise, she told me that he was sitting up in bed, by himself and was smiling at her. What a boost that was. She will post some to pics of him on my FB page later tonight.
The bottom line is this; when will I accept the fact that God will never give me more than I can handle? Why do I, at times, lack the most basic faith? To take an exerpt form a book I was reading today, am I a follower of Christ or am I a fan of Christ? That is a very good question and sometimes I feel as though I can't answer that question.
I sincerely ask for your prayers. I will need them to get through the next 1-2 years. I may be home in a month or I may be home for good in 21 months. The job marked may determine the answer to that question. I have asked to return to my previous job but only God can make that happen.
Please continue to pray for Ken Ken, Nancy, Lamil, Kingston and the rest of the Haitian people. It is very easy to become judgmental towards the adults who often try their best to take advantage of you. Until next time, take care, stay safe and God Bless.
Mark
Monday, November 7, 2011
You Think You're Having a Bad Day?
God continues to amaze me as I continue my mission here in Haiti. I am fast approaching my 3 month mark. While in many ways it seems like a lifetime, I find myself continually amazed by God's presence and the perseverance of the Haitian people.
Like any country, Haiti has good people and bad people; much like America and every other country on earth. At various times in your life you meet someone who simply brings you back to reality, if only for a short time. As human beings, most of us are prideful, spoiled, and selfish at times. This is especially true of Americans because we are accustomed to a particular lifestyle. Don't misunderstand me. Unlike some of our politicians, I do not believe that we are an arrogant people though I believe all of us are arrogant at times.
I myself am definitely spoiled. I have never been wealthy and most likely never will be. But I have still enjoyed a level of comfort that many people around the world will never experience. I have never truly been hungry, when I couldn't find something to eat, either in the refrigerator or in town. I have never truly been poor. I may not have everything I desire but I have a decent home, furniture, satellite television, internet, vehicles, and a motorcycle. Maybe I don't live in a 5 bedroom mansion. Maybe I don't have brand new furniture. Maybe I don't have a brand new car or a $30,000 Harley Davidson. Nonetheless, I should be down on my knees each and every day thanking God for what I do have.
I spent 12 months in Iraq between June 2006 and July 2007. This of course was during the height of the sectarian violence and in one of the most dangerous cities on earth, Baghdad. I witnessed death on so many fronts. I saw firsthand, the suffering caused by war and poverty. I saw many people killed because of their beliefs, perhaps something as simple as being a Sunni instead of a Shiite. Or maybe they were a victim of collateral damage caused by our own artillery. Regardless, that alone should have humbled me. But, if I am being honest, it only humbled me for a while.
Not long after returning home from Iraq, I allowed myself to forget about the things I saw there. I tucked those memories into a vault deep in my mind, hoping to never recall them again. And sadly, I was successful, until August of 2011 when I accepted a position as an International Police Officer in Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.
Haiti is not a war zone, though it often resembles one. It is a violent country, but nothing like Iraq, or Afghanistan, or Darfur or any number of other African countries rife with civil war, war lords fighting over the spoils. Haiti is simply a country without a leader. They have been "raped" by their leaders for the last hundred years. The people have suffered greatly.
When I first arrived here in August I was excited. I was excited about a new adventure in a foreign land. It didn't take long for that excitement to change to despair, dread and even depression. The mission was not at all what I expected. Did I expect too much? Maybe so. What I saw was a country rife with poverty, filth, a lack of basic necessities. A country with a 75% unemployment rate. A country with very little social services. A country with a life expectancy of 50 years and an infant mortality rate out of this world. A country rife with HIV and AIDS, Syphilis, Cholera, Typhoid and every other disease known to mankind. A country only 710 miles from United States soil. How then can this country be in such bad shape? I have no good answer for that.
I often find myself not being thankful for what I have, but sinking in self pity. Feeling sorry for myself because I gave up a good job to come here. Feeling sorry myself because I miss my family. Feeling sorry for myself because I can't ride my motorcycle, or run to McDonald's. Feeling sorry for myself because of what it is costing me to live here. It is disgusting, disgusting that I would, even for a moment, feel sorry for myself, knowing what I know about the Haitian people.
For any of you who follow me on Facebook, or have read my previous blogs, you know about Ken Ken, Sebastian, Crystal and many of the other kids I have met during this journey. Each one of those kids has broken my heart time and time again. None more than Ken Ken. He is a 10 month old little boy who is suffering from AIDS, Tuberculosis, and malnutrition. I think about him several times, each day, seven days per week. And then I think of my own children, all of whom are healthy and I hope happy. I know that this is only by the grace of God. And I realize, at least most of the time, that something bad can happen at any given time.
I have shared with you many stories and photos about and of Ken Ken. I feel guilty about this because the Bible tells us, and I'm paraphrasing, not to broadcast our efforts, to do things for people in a way that no one even realizes we've done something. Do I share those stories and photos for self-gratification? I certainly hope not. I feel that it is important for people to see what I see, to experience things through my eyes and my feelings. If I have erred, I pray for God's forgiveness.
I try to do something each and everyday that glorifies the name of God. Maybe it's buying food for a hungry child. Maybe it's spending time with Michee, a 20 year-old boy I met at my camp. Maybe it's simply saying a prayer for my friends, or my co-workers. Whatever the case may be, I know it's not enough. My actions pale in comparison to the sacrifices of Michelle Roberts, her husband Greg, Chris Keylon and the staff from Chadasha Foundation,, www.chadasha.org. It pales in comparison to Julie Columbino, Sandra Fernandez and the gang from Rebuild Globally www.RebuildGlobally.org. It pales in comparison to the sacrifices of the staff at The Apparent Project, www.apparentproject.org. Each of these people has given up their comfortable lives in the States to serve God and the people of Haiti.
I have been praying recently for God to lead me back to a man I first saw about four weeks ago. One day, on our way to work, I saw a man on the side of the road. He appeared to be paralyzed, or at the very least suffering from some type of debilitating disease. He was scooting along on his bottom side only using his hands. He was filthy. I remember immediately feeling a sense of dread and heartbreak. I vowed from that moment that I would do something to help him.
I spent the next three weeks looking for this guy. I spotted him on one occasion about a week later but had no translator. I finally spotted him today as we were headed back to Port-Au-Prince. I immediately pulled over to the side of the road, as did the rest of my team. We all got out of our vehicles. Two of my colleagues provided traffic control while the rest of us approached the man, who I found out was Robinson. Within just a few minutes, we were all pulling money from our pockets and giving it to Robinson. We were also able to determine that he was willing to accept a wheelchair. I have to admit that I was elated that God had answered my prayers. And, I was proud of my colleagues, not only for their help but also for their compassion. This sort of thing doesn't happen every day in this mission.
After leaving Robinson, I immediately called my reliable friend Michelle Roberts. Michelle agreed to provide me with a wheelchair, free of charge. And she will bring it to me in the next couple of days. We now know where Robinson lives and we will deliver the wheelchair to him, and train him in the proper operation. We are also going to buy a reflective triangle to place on the back of the wheelchair as well as some other type of reflective material. The road he travels on is extremely dangerous, as are most roads here in Haiti. While I have grown to love most of the Haitian people, their driving skills are suspect at best.
Well, until next time I hope that God blesses each and every one of you. Take care, stay safe and God Bless.
www.apparentproject.org
Like any country, Haiti has good people and bad people; much like America and every other country on earth. At various times in your life you meet someone who simply brings you back to reality, if only for a short time. As human beings, most of us are prideful, spoiled, and selfish at times. This is especially true of Americans because we are accustomed to a particular lifestyle. Don't misunderstand me. Unlike some of our politicians, I do not believe that we are an arrogant people though I believe all of us are arrogant at times.
I myself am definitely spoiled. I have never been wealthy and most likely never will be. But I have still enjoyed a level of comfort that many people around the world will never experience. I have never truly been hungry, when I couldn't find something to eat, either in the refrigerator or in town. I have never truly been poor. I may not have everything I desire but I have a decent home, furniture, satellite television, internet, vehicles, and a motorcycle. Maybe I don't live in a 5 bedroom mansion. Maybe I don't have brand new furniture. Maybe I don't have a brand new car or a $30,000 Harley Davidson. Nonetheless, I should be down on my knees each and every day thanking God for what I do have.
I spent 12 months in Iraq between June 2006 and July 2007. This of course was during the height of the sectarian violence and in one of the most dangerous cities on earth, Baghdad. I witnessed death on so many fronts. I saw firsthand, the suffering caused by war and poverty. I saw many people killed because of their beliefs, perhaps something as simple as being a Sunni instead of a Shiite. Or maybe they were a victim of collateral damage caused by our own artillery. Regardless, that alone should have humbled me. But, if I am being honest, it only humbled me for a while.
Not long after returning home from Iraq, I allowed myself to forget about the things I saw there. I tucked those memories into a vault deep in my mind, hoping to never recall them again. And sadly, I was successful, until August of 2011 when I accepted a position as an International Police Officer in Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.
Haiti is not a war zone, though it often resembles one. It is a violent country, but nothing like Iraq, or Afghanistan, or Darfur or any number of other African countries rife with civil war, war lords fighting over the spoils. Haiti is simply a country without a leader. They have been "raped" by their leaders for the last hundred years. The people have suffered greatly.
When I first arrived here in August I was excited. I was excited about a new adventure in a foreign land. It didn't take long for that excitement to change to despair, dread and even depression. The mission was not at all what I expected. Did I expect too much? Maybe so. What I saw was a country rife with poverty, filth, a lack of basic necessities. A country with a 75% unemployment rate. A country with very little social services. A country with a life expectancy of 50 years and an infant mortality rate out of this world. A country rife with HIV and AIDS, Syphilis, Cholera, Typhoid and every other disease known to mankind. A country only 710 miles from United States soil. How then can this country be in such bad shape? I have no good answer for that.
I often find myself not being thankful for what I have, but sinking in self pity. Feeling sorry for myself because I gave up a good job to come here. Feeling sorry myself because I miss my family. Feeling sorry for myself because I can't ride my motorcycle, or run to McDonald's. Feeling sorry for myself because of what it is costing me to live here. It is disgusting, disgusting that I would, even for a moment, feel sorry for myself, knowing what I know about the Haitian people.
For any of you who follow me on Facebook, or have read my previous blogs, you know about Ken Ken, Sebastian, Crystal and many of the other kids I have met during this journey. Each one of those kids has broken my heart time and time again. None more than Ken Ken. He is a 10 month old little boy who is suffering from AIDS, Tuberculosis, and malnutrition. I think about him several times, each day, seven days per week. And then I think of my own children, all of whom are healthy and I hope happy. I know that this is only by the grace of God. And I realize, at least most of the time, that something bad can happen at any given time.
I have shared with you many stories and photos about and of Ken Ken. I feel guilty about this because the Bible tells us, and I'm paraphrasing, not to broadcast our efforts, to do things for people in a way that no one even realizes we've done something. Do I share those stories and photos for self-gratification? I certainly hope not. I feel that it is important for people to see what I see, to experience things through my eyes and my feelings. If I have erred, I pray for God's forgiveness.
I try to do something each and everyday that glorifies the name of God. Maybe it's buying food for a hungry child. Maybe it's spending time with Michee, a 20 year-old boy I met at my camp. Maybe it's simply saying a prayer for my friends, or my co-workers. Whatever the case may be, I know it's not enough. My actions pale in comparison to the sacrifices of Michelle Roberts, her husband Greg, Chris Keylon and the staff from Chadasha Foundation,, www.chadasha.org. It pales in comparison to Julie Columbino, Sandra Fernandez and the gang from Rebuild Globally www.RebuildGlobally.org. It pales in comparison to the sacrifices of the staff at The Apparent Project, www.apparentproject.org. Each of these people has given up their comfortable lives in the States to serve God and the people of Haiti.
I have been praying recently for God to lead me back to a man I first saw about four weeks ago. One day, on our way to work, I saw a man on the side of the road. He appeared to be paralyzed, or at the very least suffering from some type of debilitating disease. He was scooting along on his bottom side only using his hands. He was filthy. I remember immediately feeling a sense of dread and heartbreak. I vowed from that moment that I would do something to help him.
I spent the next three weeks looking for this guy. I spotted him on one occasion about a week later but had no translator. I finally spotted him today as we were headed back to Port-Au-Prince. I immediately pulled over to the side of the road, as did the rest of my team. We all got out of our vehicles. Two of my colleagues provided traffic control while the rest of us approached the man, who I found out was Robinson. Within just a few minutes, we were all pulling money from our pockets and giving it to Robinson. We were also able to determine that he was willing to accept a wheelchair. I have to admit that I was elated that God had answered my prayers. And, I was proud of my colleagues, not only for their help but also for their compassion. This sort of thing doesn't happen every day in this mission.
After leaving Robinson, I immediately called my reliable friend Michelle Roberts. Michelle agreed to provide me with a wheelchair, free of charge. And she will bring it to me in the next couple of days. We now know where Robinson lives and we will deliver the wheelchair to him, and train him in the proper operation. We are also going to buy a reflective triangle to place on the back of the wheelchair as well as some other type of reflective material. The road he travels on is extremely dangerous, as are most roads here in Haiti. While I have grown to love most of the Haitian people, their driving skills are suspect at best.
Well, until next time I hope that God blesses each and every one of you. Take care, stay safe and God Bless.
Robinson November 7, 2011
www.apparentproject.org
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